Bill Maher Critiques Darializa Avila Chevalier’s Views and Primary Win

Bill Maher has criticized Darializa Avila Chevalier, supported by New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani, after Chevalier won the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District. Concerns have arisen over her stance on prisons, deportation, and past anti-American remarks on social media.

On Friday’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Maher criticized Avila Chevalier for not directly addressing whether a convicted murderer should be jailed during a New York Editorial Board interview. Maher stated, “The New York Times asked her, ‘If someone murders someone randomly, should they go to jail?’ Couldn’t get her to say yes for that.” He referred to her as “patient zero” of a “woke mind virus.”

Avila Chevalier, aged 32, defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat in Tuesday’s primary, securing 49.4% of the votes compared to Espaillat’s 45.9%. Maher highlighted past statements where she called America an “occupied native land” and a “disgrace,” and noted her plan to kneel during the congressional oath.

Despite previous controversial statements, Avila Chevalier was seen raising her hand alongside other candidates during a Get Out the Vote rally in New York City on June 18, 2026. Among her supporters were Sen. Bernie Sanders and Mayor Mamdani.

The topic of how murderers should be dealt with was a focus during her interaction with the editorial board. While Avila Chevalier recognized incarceration as part of the current system, she didn’t explicitly support it. She said, “The fact that the murder happened is tragic…a reflection of systems that allowed that circumstance to be possible.” On deportation, she expressed total opposition, stating, “I am not OK with any deportation…an incredibly cruel punishment…relegated to people…where they were born.”

Avila Chevalier’s campaign advocates for policies like abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, Housing for All, and a “Babies, not Bombs” agenda. Her platform includes fighting to abolish deportation and diverting funds from foreign wars. Additionally, she has supported abolishing police, borders, and prisons, as well as property seizures from landlords.

Fox News Digital attempted to reach Avila Chevalier for comments but received no reply. CJ Womack, an associate editor, joined Fox News Digital’s team in 2026. With extensive experience in media analysis, CJ emphasizes the importance of journalism in shaping political and cultural landscapes.